Gaston Maugras’s book is a double portrait set against the sparkling, turbulent backdrop of pre-Revolutionary France. It follows two compelling lives that were intimately connected yet worlds apart.

The Story

The Marquise de Boufflers was a central figure in Parisian society. Her salon was a meeting place for thinkers like Voltaire, and she was admired for her wit and charm. Her son, the Chevalier de Boufflers, chose a different road. He was an army officer, a writer, and an explorer who served as governor of Senegal. The book traces their parallel journeys—her life as a social architect in France, and his as a man of action on distant frontiers. Their relationship, revealed through their correspondence, forms the emotional core of the story.

Why You Should Read It

This book grabbed me because it feels so modern. At its heart, it’s about a parent and a child navigating love, expectation, and independence. The Marquise built a legacy on conversation and connection, while her son sought meaning through adventure and duty. Maugras doesn’t just give us dry facts; he lets their personalities shine through. You get the Marquise’s cleverness and her anxieties, the Chevalier’s boldness and his reflections. It’s a reminder that people in the past had the same complicated family dynamics we do, just with fancier clothes.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves character-driven history or stories about fascinating, unconventional families. You don’t need to be an expert on French history to enjoy it. If you like biographies that focus on relationships as much as events, or if you’re curious about the real people behind the historical era, this is a deeply satisfying read. It’s a human-scale story set in a grand century.